The here and the hereafter in the will of the Bishop of Coimbra Egas Fafes de Lanhoso

Abstract

Not without crossing it with other sources, the testament of bishop Egas Fafes de Lanhoso, the source par excellence, because it is extensive and detailed, allows us to follow the life path of this XIII^st century prelate, in the family, in the career, in having and in being. The variety of documentation reflects his origin and family, marriage alliances and family sociability networks, the constitution of his patrimonial power, through legitimate means or usurpation, but also the ecclesiastic in the full exercise of his episcopal office. In it, made in Montpellier when he was on his way to take possession of the archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela, in its breadth and detail, from the initial harangue to the order and invocations, from the dispositive clauses linked to the good of the soul to the choice of burial place — in a tomb already carefully prepared by him —, to the countless material determinations with enumeration of executors, heirs and legatees, distribution of movable, immovable and animals, payment and collection of debts, we reveal a lot about the personal character of Egas Fafes, his concept of family, of kinship, of the episcopal “house” and of private life, of friendship and affection, of protectionism and gift, and, deep down, his attitude towards life, death and the afterlife.